Babar Azam is among three players denied permission by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play in the forthcoming Global T20 Canada due to workload concerns.
Fellow all-format players Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi will also be absent from the annual competition, which begins next week.
Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Nawaz have all been cleared to feature by the PCB, who refused fast bowler Naseem Shah permission to play in The Hundred.
The governing body say the players' welfare is at the forefront of their decision.
"After taking into consideration Pakistan's busy and packed cricket calendar... and following consultations with the three players as well as the national selection committee, it has been decided to decline their requests," a statement read.
"The three are all-format cricketers and their services are expected to be required in the upcoming eight months during which Pakistan will play nine tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is.
"As such, and in line with the PCB's workload management policy, it is in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and the players that they skip the upcoming event in Canada so that they are in their best mental and physical shape for the season."
West Indies squad named for first two England T20Is in Barbados
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has unveiled a formidable 15-man squad for the first two matches of the upcoming 'Rivalry' T20I series against England, set to ignite at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados.
A subsequent announcement will reveal the squad for the remaining games in Saint Lucia. This highly anticipated five-match series promises thrilling action as two cricketing powerhouses clash on Caribbean soil.
The series bowls off with back-to-back matches in Barbados on November 9 and 10 before moving to Saint Lucia for the final games on November 14, 16, and 17.
The West Indies T20I team has been a dominant force at home, remaining unbeaten in four T20 International Series since 2023. This impressive run has propelled them up the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings, showcasing their resurgence on the global stage.
Head Coach Daren Sammy expressed his enthusiasm for the highly competitive series, where the team is aiming for consecutive series wins against the visitors.
Sammy said: “The T20 team is our most settled team with lots of experienced players. However, the difficulty will be picking the eleven, as every single player is challenging for a spot in the eleven. As we face a very good England team, I am confident that the selected squad will continue to play a brand of cricket that allows us to win games and this Rivalry series.”
Akeal Hosein, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, and Andre Russell, who missed the recent Sri Lanka tour due to personal reasons, rejoin the squad, adding depth and experience for this exciting series.
Medium pacer Matthew Forde, recently named Player of the Series in the CG United ODI series, steps in to replace fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who is serving a two-match suspension.
The West Indies T20I Squad for the first two games of the five-game series is as follows:
Team Management:
Head Coach: Daren Sammy
Team Manager: Rawl Lewis
Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith
Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer
Assistant Coach (Bowling): James Franklin
Physiotherapist: Denis Byam
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Ronald Rogers
Team Masseuse: Dane Currency
Team Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram
Media & Content Officer: Jerome Foster
West Indies vs England T20I Series Schedule:
1st T20 International: 9 November 2024- Kensington Oval, Barbados.
2nd T20 International: 10 November 2024- Kensington Oval, Barbados
3rd T20 International: 14 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, Saint Lucia
4th T20 International: 16 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, Saint Lucia
5th T20 International: 17 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, Saint Lucia
Shepherd, Paul back Region One’s Under-13 Tapeball Competition, encouraging young talent and community development
Guyana and West Indies cricketers Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul are lending their support to the budding cricket stars of Region One, standing behind the Under-13 Tapeball Competition with a generous sponsorship of $300,000 for the first-place cash prize.
The tournament, which kicked off recently at the Kamwatta Recreation Ground, is organized by the Sebai Primary School PTA and is being held under the impactful theme, “End Child Labour.”
Shepherd, who has been a longtime supporter of the event, and Paul’s involvement mark a strong show of commitment to nurturing youth talent while raising awareness around child labour in the region.
The final match, scheduled for November 16 at Fitzburg Recreational Ground, promises to be a grand affair.
Thanks to the International Organization for Migration, champions will receive beautifully crafted trophies, while the Ministry of Labour has sponsored trophies for sub-regional winners and runners-up.
The competition is the result of a combined community effort, with other sponsors stepping forward to offer their support, as Orlando Rogers of One Plus Total Solutions and Skywest Charter Service have donated the $200,000 second-place prize.
Meanwhile, ASP Chandradat Kooldeep, Maureen Rebeiro, Pro Red Resources, Peter De Freitas, International Imports and Supplies, Breeze Enterprise, Frontier Pharmacy, Mr. Ram Supreme Construction, Toshau Barmeter, CDC Chair Matthew’s Ridge, Alana James Amin, and the Department of Education Region One have all contributed to making the event a success.
Giving the lineup of young talent from various primary schools competing, the Under-13 Tapeball Competition is not just a game but a platform for personal growth and an important message to combat child labour in the community.
Haris and Saim lead Pakistan to record nine-wicket victory
Haris Rauf’s second five wicket-haul and half-centuries by Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique led Pakistan to a nine-wicket victory over Australia in the second ODI on Friday.
Pakistan's win also levelled the three-match series with their biggest ODI win over the world champions in Australia, setting up a decider in Perth on Sunday.
The hosts started poorly with the bat, losing Jake Fraser-McGurk (13) and Matt Short (19) inside the first seven overs, with Shaheen Afridi claiming both early wickets.
Steve Smith top scored with 35 but was bowled out by Mohammad Hasnain (1-27), before Rauf ripped through Australia's middle order for the second consecutive game.
On his way to figures of 5-29, the 31-year-old claimed the wickets of Inglis (18), Marcus Labuschagne (six), Aaron Hardie (14), Glenn Maxwell (16) and Pat Cummins (13).
Shaheen Afridi secured the final wicket of Adam Zampa (18), with Pakistan handed a target of 164 runs to take the series to a decider.
And the tourists made light work of their run chase, with Ayub (83) and Abdullah Shafique (64) combining brilliantly to produce an opening stand of 137.
Zampa eventually made the breakthrough with the wicket of Ayub, but the damage had already been done. Babar Azam sealed the win with a six, with Pakistan reaching their target in just 26.3 overs.
Data Debrief: Shaheens stars play their part
Pakistan have not won an ODI series in Australia since 2002, but their showing on Friday will give them confidence of claiming a historic win.
They registered their biggest ODI win against the world champions in Australia in terms of both balls (141 balls) and wickets (nine) remaining. Previously, Pakistan's biggest ODI triumph over Australia in their own backyard had come in Sydney in 1981, winning by six wickets.
But the victory was inspired by Ayub and Shafique's 137-run stand for the first wicket, which was Pakistan’s second-best opening stand in an ODI against Australia, only behind Mohsin Khan and Mudassar Nazar (141) in 1985.
Mohammad Rizwan also played his part. His tally of six catches is the joint-most for any wicket-keeper in an ODI for Pakistan, going level with Sarfaraz Ahmed against South Africa in 2015.
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